Röthelstein – Breite Wand · Grazer Bergland · Austria
Bail with caveatsBolting confidence: high
A new (2025) nine-pitch outing on the right edge of the Breite Wand that weaves between the bushes. Three spots of UIAA 5-/5, otherwise easier. Still a little earthy in places.
The route
Strauchdieb is a varied, easy route at the far right of the Breite Wand on the Röthelstein, opened in January 2025 by Anita and Rüdiger Hohensinner. It threads its way between the bushes for nine pitches. The grade is UIAA 5 (about 5a) with 4+ obligatory: three spots of 5-/5, the rest easier. The route is very well bolted; some sections are still a bit earthy.
The climbing
| Pitch | Grade | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| P1 | – | Not described beyond a photo. |
| P2 | – | Not described. |
| P3 | – | One of the cruxes (5-/5). |
| P4 | – | A steep pillar. |
| P5 | – | Passes round a block. |
| P6 | – | Another crux section. |
| P7 | – | Not described. |
| P8 | – | Not described. |
| P9 | – | Runs partly through woodland to the last belay. It can be skipped by traversing off right before it. |
Getting there
From the S35 (Graz to Bruck) leave at Frohnleiten, take the main road towards Tyrnau, turn left beyond Tyrnau and drive up to the Rote Wand car park at 870 m. The route can also be reached from Mixnitz (car park "Drachenhöhle") in 1 to 1.5 h.
About 45 min from the Rote Wand car park. From its far end take a small path (barrier), descending at first, past a clearing with a small hut to a wide forest road below a hunting lodge. Follow it uphill for a few minutes to the edge of the wood, go left into the forest onto a knoll with a three-way junction at a gate. Take the descending path (waymarked for Mixnitz) to another forest road and follow it uphill (right) until it levels out. Continue until a small cairn on the left, below a scree fan lying above the road, which is easy to miss in high grass. Go up right here and, straight after the scree, right to the start at about 1000 m.
Loading map
The point marks the base of the route.
Parking
Rote Wand car park above Tyrnau
Point from bergsteigen.com touren/klettern/strauchdieb-roethelstein-breite-wand
Contains the route point and parking. Opens in most mapping apps and GPS watches.
Points are compiled from published sources, with the precision stated above. They were not surveyed on the ground: check them against a current topo.
Coordinates: 47.32312, 15.38553 (route base) · Parking: 47.32050, 15.40910
Getting down
From the last belay go about 25 m horizontally right to a large beech where you meet the Kellersteig, and descend it. Alternatively, before the last pitch, traverse 60 m horizontally right to the Kalter Keller. About 45 min back to the car.
Retreat
Bail with caveats
The source gives one escape: before the last pitch you can traverse 60 m horizontally right to the Kalter Keller and walk down. Abseiling the route is not described and the belay rigging is not stated.
Partly inferred from the route facts
Safety
Sun and weather
South facing, base about 1000 m. Season March to June and September to November; too hot in high summer. New route, so expect some earth on the holds until it has seen more traffic.
Sun on the wall · S-facing
Working out the sunlit hours for this month.
Sun on the wallDaylight, wall in shade● Usual season
Estimated from the wall's aspect only. Ignores surrounding terrain, gullies and the wall's exact shape. Clock times are local to the wall (Central European time), for the 15th of each month.
Climate figures for Grazer Bergland are not available yet
What to carry
10 quickdraws, slings and a helmet; a 50 m single rope. bergsteigen.com states that nuts are not required.
Derived from the route data; check it against a current topo
From climbers
Reader reports are not being collected yet. Until they are, check a current topo and the local club or guidebook publisher for recent changes to Strauchdieb.
Worth knowing
Open questions
Provenance
Around 5a · about 9 pitches
Austria · Wilder Kaiser
Nine pitches of easy slabs and water runnels beside the Treffauer normal route, UIAA 5 at most if you take the easy variant on pitch 4. Lots of bolts and friendly ground make it one of the most popular routes in the Schneekar. The rock is not solid everywhere and the walk-in is two hours.
5a9 pitches280 m
Switzerland · Saas Valley
The right-hand of the Jegihorn's three easy bolted routes and the quietest. Ten long pitches up low-angled slabs and then a steeper, airy central section on sharp flakes and edges, finishing along a short crest to the 3206 m summit. Bolts are further apart than on Alpendurst and the belays are unlinked, so it suits a leader who is steady at 4c.
5a10 pitches360 m
Read the cautionsCommitting
Switzerland · Wiwanni (Baltschiedertal)
Eight short pitches of 4b to 5a on compact, grippy gneiss slabs above the Wiwannihütte, finishing on a 2880 m summit. Pitches 3 and 4 climb a big steep slab that is the heart of the route. Chained belays and an abseil descent make it the gentlest introduction to the Wiwanni routes, though the starting pitches feel stiff for 4b.
5a8 pitches180 m
Spain · Aragonese Pyrenees (Tena & Canfranc valleys)
An easy granite ridge above the Bozuelo meadows, low-angled and never exposed. Two smooth friction slabs at 5a, on pitches 1 and 6, are the only real difficulties; the rest is steps and short walls at grade 3 to 4. Ideal for a first multipitch, and you can step off rightwards onto ledges almost anywhere.
5a7 pitches200 m
Compiled from published sources and last verified October 2026. Bolts, anchors and access change. Climbing is dangerous and you are responsible for your own decisions: check a current topo and read the disclaimer.
